benefit-sharing

1. This document provides an overview of the “innovative approaches”, which were identified and considered by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Funding Strategy (the Committee) in the last biennium. It is an excerpt from the Report of the Second Resumed Session of the Seventh Meeting of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Funding Strategy, which was made available to the Governing Body in document IT/GB-5/13/Inf.4 Add.2.
2. In Resolution 3/2009, the Governing Body “invite[d] Contracting Parties to explore, including with relevant stakeholders, the development of innovative approaches to allow for the provision of resources to the Benefit-sharing Fund, including on a regular and predictable basis.” At its Fourth Session, the Governing Body in Resolution 3/2011 “emphasize[d] the need to further explore innovative approaches in engaging voluntary donors to the Benefit-sharing Fund, in particular various private sector prospects such as the seed and the food processing industry.”
3. The Committee has accordingly identified and considered a wide range of innovative approaches during the last biennium. Moreover, there have been extensive discussions on innovative approaches among Contracting Parties and stakeholders. The descriptions of the six innovative approaches contained in this document were prepared by the Committee at its second resumed meeting.
4. The document Background on the work undertaken by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Funding Strategy, and its further development, makes ample reference to the innovative approaches already identified by the Committee and contained in this document.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture launched its third call for project proposals under its Benefit-Sharing Fund (BSF). With over USD 10 million available for supporting new projects aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic material in developing countries, this is the largest call to date.

Any governmental or non-governmental organization, including farmers and farmers’ organizations, genebanks and research institutions, as well as regional and international organizations, based in eligible countries that are Contracting Parties to the International Treaty, may apply for funds under Window 3: The Co-development and Transfer of Technology of the Call for Proposals 2014 until 2 July 2014, 24:00 Rome time. THE DEADLINE FOR WINDOW 3 HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 2 JULY.

The screening of eligible pre-proposals for Window 2 that have been received though the official channels by 2 June2014, 24:00 Rome time will now be initiated.

This document contains the Draft Reviewed Operational Procedures for the use of resources under the direct control of the Governing Body and the Draft Policy on Conflict of Interest and related Standards of Conduct for the Benefit-sharing Fund.
The Draft Reviewed Operational Procedures and the Draft Policy on Conflict of Interest provided in this document were elaborated by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Funding Strategy and contained in the Report of its seventh meeting. The Report was published online on the Treaty website and circulated to the National Focal Points through a notification.
The Governing Body is invited to finalize the review of the Operational Procedures and to adopt the Policy on Conflict of Interest.